Paul Hodgson has kindly given us permission to serialise his book on the official website.

Today, we're in Chapter 18, based in February 2000 when Neil Wainwright arrived.

Our first fixture of February was against Peterborough United at Feethams. The game was put back a day in order for it to be broadcast live on Sky television.

With it being a one o’clock kick-off, I met up with Mike, Ian and Simon in Strikers Bar before the match. The main topic of conversation was that we had signed winger Neil Wainwright on loan from Sunderland

I vaguely remembered him from his days at Wrexham, but didn’t know much about him. Ian said that he was quick and a good crosser of the ball, though whether his talent would be suited to the Feethams quagmire remained to be seen.

After a few drinks, we left Strikers Bar. Simon took me to my usual place in the disabled area and sat next to me.

Along with the Sky viewers, we were fortunate to witness an entertaining game of football which we won comfortably 2-0 with goals from Marco Gabbiadini and Neil Wainwright, on his debut.

After the game, Simon pushed me to Strikers Bar to meet Mike before heading home with Ian. We sat with Earl Gray, Richard Jones, Roger Martin and Andy Munro, all of whom were raving about the performance of Neil Wainwright. Even Roger “Doom and gloom” Martin was upbeat for a change!

After a few pints, Mike and I left Strikers Bar and headed into town where we visited the Nags Head. Just like our previous live television game against Manchester City, many of the regulars had been watching the match.  On this occasion, I didn’t bother commenting, keeping my thoughts to myself.

With it being work the following day, we headed home in a taxi at about half past six – sober for a change.

Our next opponents were Exeter City away.  Unfortunate-ly, due to a spasm attack, I was unable to go. However, Earl Gray did go and told me that Darlo played some of their best football of the season, and ran out worthy 4-1 winners, with goals from Peter Duffield, Marco Gabbiadini, Neil Heaney and Neil Wainwright. After hearing what he said, I was gutted that I was unable to attend.

The following Monday The Northern Echo stated in its match report headline, “Wide boys the key for four-midable Quakers.” With the two Neils on both flanks we looked a very impressive attacking force.

Lying fourth in the table, we next played Southend United at home. For this match, Mike, Ian and I met up in the Boot & Shoe in the town centre.

  Our main topic of conversation – not for the first time – was Flipper’s Side. Since Mike and I had had our last talk I had approached John Dean, who, along with his father Stan owns Scarsdale Books about the possibility of them publishing it.

 John seemed interested and came round to my flat to meet Mike and me., taking the completed manuscript away with him, and promising an answer by the end of the month. Although, if accepted, Mike and I would still have to pay the publishing costs ourselves, we would still have his editorial skills and guidance which would prove invaluable. Ian thought that it was unfortunate, having read the manuscript, that we were going to have to pay for the publication ourselves. I responded, “Just go with the flow!”

After a few pints we headed to Strikers Bar, where the fans were discussing Martin Carrruthers, the former Darlo forward, who since leaving the club, had rediscovered his goalscoring form.  Despite the fact that he had scored fourteen goals for Southend, I felt that his replacement, Jesper Hjorth was a far better player, and so the decision to sell him had been correct in my opinion.

 As it turned out, Carruthers did not impress on his return. However, Southend proved a hard nut to crack and held out until almost full time. Deep into stoppage time, after substitute Jesper Hjorth had hit the bar, Michael Oliver scored for the Quakers.

Following the game, Mike and I went straight into the town centre and, bored with the usual Saturday night routine, decided to sample some different pubs, which included The Red Lion, Rosie’s Bar and the Turks Head. Having been out since five o’clock, we headed home in a cab quite inebriated at nine o’clock.

The final game of February was away at Mansfield Town.

For this match, I went with Ian in his car. He picked me up at my flat, having decided to go at the last minute.

Originally, Mike reluctantly had said that if Ian couldn’t go he would take me on the train, so he was quite relieved when I rang him to tell him the night before that he wasn’t going.

The two of us left Darlington at eleven o’clock and after an uneventful journey arrived at Field Mill at about half past one.

After leaving the car in the club car park (for once I remem-bered my disabled badge!) we headed for The Early Doors.

We each had something to eat (fish and chips for me) and a few drinks before heading to the ground.

Leading 1-0 at half time, we went on to register a 2-1 victory with goals from Marco Gabbiadini and Jesper Hjorth.

With four wins out of a possible four, February had been a marvellous month for the Quakers. Still third in the table, with a four point cushion over fourth-placed Barnet, plus a game in hand, we were occupying one of the coveted automatic promotion places.